Handmade Floral Pocket Notebook

Hi, Crafty Friends!! It's that time again ... 

It's time for another I Am Roses Blog Challenge!!

Today, I'll show you how I made this Handmade Pocket Notebook that I've decorated with beautiful I Am Roses Flowers.

Let's get started!

I Am Roses Products Used

Yellow Carnations

White Small Curly Flowers

Achillea Cottage Flowers

Yellow Puffy Rose

Stamen 

Other Products Used

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Pocket Notebook Die (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Leaves, Spring (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles (Sizzix)

Mat Board (Sizzix)

Garden Harvest Collection Pack (Jillibean Soup)

Polkadot Paper - Blue, Yellow

Gingham Paper -Light Blue 

Creative Station (Xyron)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

150 Sticker Maker (Xyron)
Square Punch (Epiphany Crafts)
Square Rhinestone Charm (Epiphany Crafts)
Paper Trimmer
Elastic Cording
Rhinestone Slide
Tassel
Acrylic Beads
2" Fine Chain
Claw Closure
Jewelry Pliers
2 mm Elastic Cording
4" x 6" Notebooks

Liquid Glue

Clothes Pins (Optional)

I started by running sheets of blue and yellow polkadotted paper through my Xyron Creative Station. Then I cut both sheets in half, making 2- 5 1/2" × 8 1/2" pieces. 

I peeled the protective film off the back and attached them onto a 2 separate pieces of Sizzix Mat Board. I covered both sides of each with one side blue and one side yellow. 

The paper comes a little short so make sure the both come up short on the same end.

Then I ran my mat board through my Big Shot using Eileen Hull's Pocket Notebook Die. I made sure the color I wanted on the outside was the color that was faced down onto the die.

This cut out 2 pieces to my pocket notebook. 

I applied a strong clear drying liquid glue to the very last segment of the spine ( the one with the hole in the center) and attached the two spines together, making sure the holes were perfectly aligned. Then I used clothes pins to hold them in place till the glue set.

I cut  a piece of light blue gingham paper to 3 3/4" × 6 1/2". I also cut this pretty floral paper, from Jillibean Soup's Garden Harvest Collection, down measure 3 1/2" × 6 1/4". Then layered and  attached the two pieces together and mounted it onto my notebook cover using my Xyron Mega Runner.

I took a 14" piece of  blue head band elastic and threaded it through the center hole of the books spine.

If you have any charms or buckles add them now before you thread the other end of your elastic through.

If your hole is not big enough to fit your elastic, take a pokey tool or ball stylus tool and wiggle it around in a circular motion to widen it.

Once both ends are through,  make sure the lay flat when wrapped around the journal and make adjustments as necessary. Then tie a simple tight knot on then side of the book to close it off.

I didn't  want my elastic to rip off any flowers I was going to add to my book so I made a makeshift guardrail using this stitched strip die from the Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles set.

I attached it onto my cover and laid it over the elastic using a strong liquid glue.

Then I die cut several leaves from assorted scrapd of green papers using Eileen Hull's  Leaves, Spring die and curled and shaped them with a stylus tool.

I attached the leaves onto the book cover. Then attached a spread of Stamen. I like to fold them in half. Because these stamens are double ended, it makes it look like I'm using twice the amount I actually am.

Then I added a single Yellow Puffy Rose to the middle of my arrangement.  And added Achillea Cottage Flowers in bunches of twos.

Next, I added Yellow Carnations & White Small Curly Flowers to plug into the huge gaps. 

Then added even more stamens to fill any remaining gaps between flowers.

This turned out even prettier than I imagined!!

But every pretty notebook and needs pretty notebook charms!!

So I made a matching charm by punching out leftover paper a tiny square punch and attached it to my charm using my Xyron "X" Sticker Maker. Then finished it off with a clear square epoxy sticker.

I mounted my charm onto chain link and attached round acrylic beads, a tassel, and a claw latch closure. Then attached it to the spine of my journal.

For the inside of my notebook, I strung 2mm elastic cording through the spine holes and tied each off. Nothing fancy. And just inserted pre-made notebooks.

And here is my finished Handmade Floral Pocket Notebook...

I hope you enjoyed my project for today and that it inspired you to join in on the fun!!

To learn more about the I Am Roses Blog Challenge, link a project, or to see more inspiration from my amazing design team sisters, head on over to the Challenge Blog HERE!!

Thank you so much for taking some time out of your day to stop by!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana 

IAR Season's Greetings Blog Hop - Hello Deerie Card

WELCOME to the I Am Roses "Season's Greetings" Blog Hop!
Season's Greetings from all of us at I AM ROSES! There will be no IAR Challenge this month but we have a fabulous blog hop for you. We'd like to THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for all your support this year! There will be THREE Prizes up for grabs!

(2x) $50 Voucher
and
GRAND PRIZE $100 Voucher

Are you ready to win some beautiful I Am Roses flowers?

Here’s how to play:

• Hop along to each of the Designers’ blogs and be sure to comment on their individual IAR Blog Hop Post
• There are 3 HIDDEN BLOG CANDY PRIZES up for grabs spread throughout our  Designers’ blogs!
• Be sure to Subscribe/Follow the I Am Roses Challenge Blog
• Commenting along the way highly increases your chance of winning a Prize Voucher.
• Comments will be CLOSED on 11:59pm PST on Saturday, December 21st (This blog hop has a duration of one week)
• We will be randomly selecting 3 winners from the comments made on our Designers' blogs and will announce the winners here on the I Am Roses Challenge Blog on January 1st!

Let's get this hop started!

Here's the card I created for today's blog hop. Sometimes I feel that Santa gets all the credit and the "little guys" are often overlooked. So, I decided to make his important helpers front & center of this holiday card!

I Am Roses Supplies Used

Medium May Rose- Olive Green

White Cherry Blossoms

Red Arabian Jasmine Roses

Other Supplies Used

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Maltese Lace Frame Set (Sharon Callis Craft Designs)

Honey Silk Frame Set (Sharon Callis Craft Designs)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

VersaFine Onyx Black Ink (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)

Hello Deerie Stamp Set (Darcie's)

140 lb Mixed Media Paper

Watercolor Pencils (Derwent Academy)

Procolor Pencils (Derwent)

Kraft Cardstock (Recollections)

Green Cardstock (DCWV)

Foam Adhesive

Patterned Paper (Echo Park)

Sprinkletz- Very Cherry (Buttons Galore)

I started with a 5.5" square card base then I layered it with a 5 5/8" x 5 5/8" piece of green cardstock.

I used the outer frame die of the Maltese Lace Die set to cut my poinsettia paper and adhered all the layers together with my Xyron Mega Runner.

Then, I used the larger of the Maltese Frames to die-cut kraft cardstock.

I also die-cut mixed media paper using the inner ornate oval frame from Honey Silk Lace set.

At first, I stamped my reindeer image (from the Darcies Hello Deerie set) into the white oval frame die-cut but then I realized I also wanted to fit the little elf on there and there simply wasn't enough room. So, after I finished coloring him, I fussy cut him out with scissors.

Then I stamped my elf onto more mixed media paper.

I used an assortment of Derwent Academy watercolor and Derwent Procolor markers to color in both images and the little banner.

And hand cut all the images.

I die-cut another oval frame out of white cardstock and attached both the Kraft cardstock frame and the white oval frame onto my card base.

I glued 2 Olive Green May Roses to anchor my corners. These roses are bold in color and size.

Then I surrounded the large May Rose with White Cherry Blossoms & Red Arabian Jasmine Roses.

Then, I added adhesive foam behind my reindeer and elf and attached them to the center of my card.

I added tiny little peppermint accents around the corners opposite to my flowers for a bit of balance.

And here is my finished card...

I thought these two were absolutely adorable... look they're even holding hands! How cute is that?!

I hope you enjoyed my card for today's blog hop and that it inspires you to create some wonderful cards this holiday season!

Don't forget to check out all my wonderfully talented design team sisters over on their blogs...

Check out the full blog hop line-up here:

Alexandra Vologdina
Jo Thompson
Mitsyana Wright
Pam Schumacher
Roselany Caroline
Rosemary Bridges
Tamara Potocnik

Happy Hopping!!

~Mitsyana

I Am Roses October Challenge- Thank You Card

Hello, Crafty Friends!!
It's October 15th and time for another I Am Roses Challenge!! 

I may be a bit biased but October is my favorite month of the year- let me tell you why... 

1. Out with hot weather, in with the sweater weather.
2. Fall. Pumpkins. Scarecrows, & Hay Rides.
3. It's my birthday month!
4. Let's not forget Halloween!! CANDY!! "Nuff said!!

And with all those wonderful things in mind, I decided to create this gorgeous fall-inspired Thank You card for my challenge project.

I Am Roses Supplies

Dark Fall Tone Peony Flowers

Semi-Open Rose Buds- Tangerine

Large Romantica Roses- Cream

Arabian Jasmine- Tangerine

Achillea Cottage Flowers- White

Other Supplies

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz Skeleton Leaves (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz Funky Floral #2 (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink- Fired Brick (Ranger Ink)

Natural Corrugated Cardstock (DCWV)

 Luxury Cardstock- Precious Metals (Crafter's Companion)

Autumn Leaves (DCVWV)

110 lb. Kraft Cardstock (Recollections)

110 lb. White Cardstock (Recollections)

3" Disposable Sticker Maker (Xyron)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

Metal Thank You Embellishment (Momenta)

Life Changing Blender Brushes (Picket Fence Studios)

Quick Grip (Beacon)

I started by creating a #10 (9 1/4"x 3 7/8") card base from kraft cardstock. Then layered it with a 9 1/8" x 3 3/4" piece of white cardstock, followed by a 9" x 3 5/8" piece of corrugated cardstock and used my Xyron Mega Runner to attach the layers together.

I cut a piece of patterned paper from DCWV's Autumn Leaves Stack an attache it to the card front. I made sure to make it as wide as the corrugate and torn on both ends. Sadly, this stack has been discontinued- but a digital download version is available through AC Digitals.

I ran a small piece of white cardstock through my 3" Disposable Sticker Maker then die-cut four sprigs using my Big Shot machine and Tim Holtz's Funky Floral #2  dies. 

Then I inked on Distress Oxide Ink in Fired Brick with one of the small Life Changing Blender Brushes by Picket Fence Studios.

I also die-cut some Tim Holtz Skeleton Leaves from Rose Gold Luxury Cardstock. I forgot to back my paper with adhesive first, so I quickly ran my die cuts through my 3" Disposable Sticker Maker. 

For intricate dies like this, I suggest running your paper through your with adhesive BEFORE die cutting, I found out the hard way that the adhesive through littler holes in metallic paper isn't forgiving. OOPS!! Avoid sticky residue and smudges by adding adhesive first, then die-cutting.

Once your intricate piece is properly done, I peeled the protective film backer off halfway and snipped off the peeled off film. This way my I can bend and shape my die-cuts and adhere them to my project and still add dimension and not just have them lay flat.

I added both the leaves and sprigs this way. Took off only half the backer, attached it to my card, then shaped it.

Once the leaves and sprigs and leaves were attached, I started on my floral bouquet.

I used a Large Romantica Rose as my center, followed by two Chocolatey Fall Tone Peony Flowers, and tucked in Arabian Jasmine, Semi-Open Rose Buds, and sprinkled in a few white Achillea Cottage Flowers and used a sturdy liquid glue to attach them in place.

I used white pigment ink to lightly sponge the tips of my orange flowers.

Then decided that my little sprigs were slightly too light... so I brushed on more Fired Brick ink onto them. I covered the surrounding area with a tissue to protect it from getting inked.

Look at how much more they pop!

Finally, I just added a simple metal embellishment with the words thank you and my card was done.

And here is my finished card...

I really love how those orange and browns catch your eye!

I hope you enjoyed my card and are inspired to play along in our challenge!!

For more gorgeous inspiration from my fellow teamies and details to enter, how to link a project, or what kind of amazing prizes are up for grabs, please visit the I Am Roses Challenge Blog HERE.

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyan